Tom Leykis ready to return Monday with new talk show

Tom Leykis is back in the talk show game and he's ready to go Monday afternoon. Here's a Q&A to fill you in:

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: What time does it air and how can people find it?

TOM LEYKIS: The show will start, as it always did, every day at 3 p.m. Most days it's scheduled to run 3-6. Some days, such as Leykis 101 Thursday, we'll go until 7 so we can do 101 at the same time as always. We can be easily found at www.blowmeuptom.com with simple instructions on how to tune in.

OCR: What the first show will be about – how much will you talk about the past few years, or will you just jump into it?

TL: The honest answer is that we don't know. If there is a compelling story that we think that our audience wants us to talk about, we'll do that. There will be plenty of time for looking back as we go, but it's not the kind of thing I'll be making a speech about. There will be some production surprises from our new imaging voice, Howard Hoffman. And there'll be plenty of time for people to ask whatever they like.

OCR: What might some topics be?

TL: For sure we will jump right into the controversy about what has happened with Rush Limbaugh and John & Ken. Now, you have the L.A. City Council weighing in on what constitutes "acceptable speech." I have a lot to say about that. All the fuss about the quarterback, Tim Tebow, who was just traded, will be on my list. And, I have a lot to say about social networking, which has come a long way since my last broadcast.

OCR: Who will be on the show with you?

TL: No guests are planned for the first couple of days, though our producer, Gary Zabransky and our screener Dino Demilio will appear more often. Their podcast, which we distribute, has continued to be hilarious, and I want some of that vibe on my own show.

OCR: Will there be an 800-number for callers?

TL: 800 numbers are so 1977! Who pays for long distance anymore? Yet stations offer "toll-free numbers" to listeners at a cost of thousands of dollars each month. Our new number is 901-3000-TOM (901-3000-866). And my bet is that no one will pay a penny to call or notice a difference.

OCR: Will the show rerun after it airs?

TL: Our show will be available on a 24/7 stream, so we will run the entire show live, and then repeat it continuously until the next live show begins. Obviously, we will only be taking calls when the show is live in the afternoon.

OCR: Tell me more about Howard Hoffman, who was highly thought of at KABC and we were all surprised when he was let go.

TL: In 1980, shortly after I met Howard, WABC Radio in New York was ramping up to change its format from music to talk. I produced and wrote a comedy talk show which Howard hosted called "The Phone Booth." We've been friends for 32 years.

When KABC and KMPC needed a production director in 1994, I suggested Howard to then-program director Al Brady Law who, ironically, had been the program director of WABC when Howard began there in 1979. Even then, radio was a very small business!"

To whip up interest in the show, Leykis put on eBay an auction for two fans to see him in person at his first call-in show in over three years. By March 28, the high bid was $3,101. The show will originate from his New Normal Studios in Burbank.

In a press release interview, Leykis said, "I believe that the success of this auction, and the shock of some of my radio colleagues at the interest level it has generated, is further proof that today's radio industry has forgotten what people loved about radio and how to promote it.

"Good radio personalities have passionate followings that don't show up directly on balance sheets, but they are the reason why station values went from millions of dollars to hundreds of millions."

On one point, we can all agree with Leykis when he says that "rather than promoting the strengths and benefits of stations that have larger-than-life personalities, many of America's radio stations have endured years of budget-cutting and consolidation in which promotion of stations is seen as an unnecessary expense.

"Many stations have pretty much stopped promoting their brands, cutting billboards, TV spots and bumper stickers completely out of the budget. The attitude of many station owners seems to be, 'we don't believe that advertising works ... unless we're selling it to someone else.'"

Leykis is reminding his fans what he said here in an interview one month ago, namely refusing to refer to what he does as "radio" because, he says, "radio is not audio content any more than the Rolling Stones are a phonograph. Radio is an appliance ... one of the oldest of many delivery systems for audio content."

If you listen to Leykis, email us and tell us what you think. We will have your feedback here next week.

NAMES IN NEWS

Progressive talk hosts Bill Press and Stephanie Miller, aired back to back from 3 to 9 a.m. on KTLK/1150 AM, are now having both syndicated shows simulcast on CurrentTV. More information: current.com.

Dave Williams, ex-KABC and KNX, has been named co-anchor of a morning news block on KLIF-AM in Dallas.

Melanie Sill has been named executive editor at non-commercial KPCC/89.3 FM.

Peter Dills' restaurants show is now on at 8 p.m. Sundays on KABC/790 AM.

Mike Huckabee's new syndicated talk show begins Monday, but so far no Los Angeles area stations are carrying it.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a medical correspondent for CNN, will begin daily radio features in May for Cumulus Media Networks. No word yet if they will air in Southern California.

PASSING PARADE: Bob Anderson, a staff announcer at KABC-AM from 1961-2007, died on March 11 after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Anderson hosted "Religion on the Line," "Spotlight on the Community" and a talk program with future L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley. He often subbed for Bob Arthur on the "Ken and Bob" show."

Bernard Duncan is the new general manager at non-commercial Pacifica station KPFK/90.7 FM

Classical KMZT/1260 AM will play the soundtracks "Anything Goes" and "Cats" on April 7 from 8-10 a.m. More information: www.kmozart.com.

KABC/790 AM talk host and Fox News Channel host Geraldo Rivera is apologizing for his remarks that Florida teenager Trayvon Martin's decision to wear a "hoodie" sweatshirt was part of the reason he was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer. "I have obscured the main point that someone shot and killed an unarmed teenager," Rivera said.

Bob Goodman's "Whole 'Nuther Thing" airs at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 7 a salute to Curtis Mayfield on KSBR/88.5 FM. More info: www.ksbr.org. Previous shows are available for download at bobksbr.podomatic.com.

Bill Dudley will be at Spaghettini in Seal Beach Sunday (April 1) for KTWV/94.7 FM's "Wave" Sunday Brunch. KTWV is also at The Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel. More info on the O.C. brunch: www.spaghettini.com.

Two "Lum and Abner " programs recorded for use in an emergency and never aired will be played on John and Larry Gassman's "Same Time, Same Station," which streams on demand every Sunday at www.vintageradioplace.com. It is also available for download beginning Monday or Tuesday at www.radiooutofthepast.org.